Eleven wins in a row for Drumlough

THE North Down Pipe Band Championships took place last
Saturday at Bangor Castle. This competition, which is in its
53rd year, kicked off the second half of the pipe band calendar,
and brought to the town a colourful and family fun day for all
the holidaymakers, competitors and supporters alike.

All Ireland champions Ravara were in top form
winning 1st overall place in Grade 2 and tying with Cullybackey
in piping plus winning best drums, best bass and marching and
deportment. In 3A Annsborough secured the title and won best
drums and best bass section.

In 3B Drumlough, who have been unbeaten this
year, made it 11 wins in succession under Pipe Major Ian
Burrows. An amazing feat for this talented outfit.

Other winners on the day were Cullybackey who
played up in Grade 1 and took first place, and Cullenfad and
Bready Ulster Scots who won the titles in 4A and in 4B.

Next week's competition will be the European
Championships in Inverness when a few bands from Northern
Ireland will travel over to compete at the event.

Moira Demesne is the venue for this year's
Ulster Championships on August 4. The Hamilton Police Pipe Band
from Ontario Canada, as well as the College of Piping Pipe Band
from Prince Edward Island in Canada will be competing on the
day.

Both these bands, along with special guest
solo piper Ryan Canning, will be appearing at a special concert
in Trinity Methodist Church Hall, Knockmore Road, Lisburn on
Friday August 3. Tickets from the RSPBA Office on 9267 0445.

Also on the Saturday evening (August 4), the
Tannahill Weavers will be making a guest appearance at the
Ulster Pipe Band Festival in Moira commencing at 7pm with free
admission to the Festival Marquee.

The Competing Soloists' Organisation's
promotion of solo piping and drumming at Glenarm Castle Highland
Games on July 13 and July 14 did take place in spite of the
inclement weather. Adjudicators Winston Pollock, Kenneth
Stewart, Gary Watterson and Mark Wilson remarked that they were
pleased to see a good turnout of soloists taking part and all
were unanimous in their praise of the good playing standards of
the competitors.

Chieftain of the Games, the Earl of Antrim,
was also very complimentary about the day's activities and the
splendid organisation of the CSO, and presented the young
players with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

Mrs Heather McFadyen, a visitor from
Campbeltown handed over the prizes to the winners on July 14
when the venue was switched to Larne because of the weather
conditions.

This year an added attraction at the Games
was the appearance of a group of pipers and drummers from
Kintyre Schools Pipe Bands from the Campbeltown area of Argyll
in Scotland. Because of the prevailing weather conditions the
band was limited in their appearances but did manage to perform
for the gathering crowds and also to lead the Earl of Antrim and
the participants into the sports arena. These extremely talented
young players provided a sight and sound very much acclaimed by
the Games organisers as well as the visiting public.

Councillor Mark Dunn, Mayor of Larne Borough
Council invited the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band -'Scottish Pipe
Band of the Year' - to attend an informal reception at Larne
Borough Council Offices. Here the band gave a 30 minute
performance in the car park before going on for refreshments.

The CSO would like to record their sincere
thanks to the Management team at Glenarm Castle and all who
contributed to make the weekend such a resounding success.